Posted on 03/29/2012 11:13:33 PM PDT by Pinkbell
FAIRFIELD, Calif. Republican leaders and voters, frustrated by their party's prolonged presidential contest, are increasingly coalescing behind front-runner Mitt Romney. Yet Rick Santorum on Thursday urged conservatives not to forsake their principles under pressure.
He did so by conjuring the memory of Ronald Reagan, still the conservative icon, at an oddly symbolic place: the jelly bean factory that created the former president's favorite treats.
"Let them know, conservatives all across this country have not given up the fight, we're not going to concede to the moderate establishment who wants to convince everybody that it's over, it's time to go away," Santorum told about 200 supporters at the Jelly Belly factory in a town halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento.
He alluded to Reagan's favored policy trio of free enterprise, a strong defense and conservative social policies, saying, "We as conservatives need to stand up and fight for a candidate who can win this general election, who stands solidly, firmly on the 'three-legged stool' that brought the Reagan coalition together."
Santorum's brushback of party leaders came the same day that former President George H.W. Bush endorsed Romney, and after similar nods from Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. All three expressed concern that the party's prolonged nomination battle was harming their nominee's chances against President Obama in the fall.
Santorum declined to comment on the endorsements while shaking hands with supporters after his speech.
Like all of the GOP candidates, Santorum speaks glowingly of the late president, but his remarks on Thursday had special resonance because of the locale. Multicolored murals of Reagan and his wife, Nancy, made of jelly beans, hung outside the room where Santorum spoke.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
"They're asking you, people of principle, to compromise your principles and to be for someone who is less corely convicted than Ronald Reagan because we need to win. My question is, 'Win what?' " he said. "Every time we run someone that the moderate establishment of the Republican Party said we need to win, we lose. Why? Because Americans don't have a clear choice. They don't have a vision for someone who actually believes and who dramatically, decisively lays out a vision for the American people to inspire and lift up and get people, like Reagan did, to believe in themselves."
And:
Santorum was incredulous that Romney had been running ads in Wisconsin that imply Santorum supported abortion rights while in Congress.
"I was out there leading the charge while Gov. Romney was contributing money out of his own checkbook to Planned Parenthood," Santorum said.
Santorum Ping!
FReepmail Antoninus to be added or removed.
Rick Santorum can evoke anything he wants. He’s still not a leader.
Indeed he is not. Sadly, we will be without any political leaders on the side of good, because America has become corrupt and can no longer produce them.
They are all charlatans.
Only two posts for a hater to show up. That’s even sooner than I expected.
My condolences
Still love the Santorum! Didn’t know he was in my state.
I assume he was joking about the pink bowling ball — didn’t like that comment — and I really regret he stuck his mouth into the Trayvon issue, saying it was a crime and that someone was evil,or whatever he said. There is no evidence that we can be sure of at this point either way. Obama was wrong to get into it, and so is Santorum.
But I far prefer him to Romney and he is all we’ve got. Please vote Santorum just to attempt to keep Romney from his delegates and give him less of a mandate.
No story concerning Senator Rick Santorum is complete without some csense type squatting to leave a Myth Romney campaign talking point urination puddle upon a Santorum topic thread. All in the name of supporting Speaker Newt Gingrich, right?
Dude, you need to get a life.
“Rick Santorum can evoke anything he wants. He’s still not a leader.”
Maybe csense, to God He is...
Psalm 124 and 125:
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 125 ~ They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Sion: he shall not be moved for ever that dwelleth.
Sometimes I wonder about this board....
You can feel free to go there, I won't....
Greetings chris37:
None of our leaders are “perfect;” they, like us, are sinful human beings. 2000 years ago, next month the last perfect person to walk this planet was rejected by Jerusalem voters.
Judging by established voting records, we have two respectable conservative candidates remaining in the race. Neither is perfect, both made mistakes; but gladly will take a President Gingrich or President Santorum over the three remaining alternatives.
Cheers,
OLA
Well wonder away then; because I fail to understand such irrational behavior amongst conservatives. We finally have two of the best conservative candidates running for the office of President since Ronald Reagan, yet some folks are compelled to debase them.
Anyway, I’ve had my fill of Myth Romney’s trash talk about his opponents, understanding it’s all he’s got. Running on either Myth’s or Obama’s record is polishing a turd. One could only hope Myth could be half as tough upon 0bama as he’s been on Newt & Rick.
Many things that piss me off about 0bama’s tenure in the White House, Myth already tried as the Governor of Massaschusetts. So we’re either keeping a marxist-statist in the White House, or replacing the marxist-statist with a progressive-statist “R” after his name. Some choice.
Frankly, should we get stuck with Myth as the GOP candidate if it wasn’t for the horrific damage of 0bama remaining in the Oval Office for one day longer than necessary, I’d vote third party as a protest vote. Yeah, I want a brokered SBR GOP Convention, that’s a Someone Besides Romney.
If he is, then you needn’t point it out, and those that do risk speaking for God, or at the very least claim an endorsement.
You can feel free to go there, I won’t....
csense,
I am not sure, are you making a joke saying “God’s endorsement?” Santorum isn’t “speaking for God.” He is following Him, shouldn’t everybody? God is the source of all goodness.
God is love and truth, to those who keep His Covenant.
I want you to go there...
That said, I've always maintained that Rick Santorum was a nice guy, but he doesn't make a very good candidate, and I still stand by that. Some people just don't make good candidates, regardless of anything else. His Handling of the Trayvon Martin case was very disappointing, and it does not speak well of his leadership qualities, or his understanding of Constitutional principles, or the rule of law. His statements were incendiary in an atmosphere that is already fueled with violent rhetoric. What he said, as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States, wasn't just stupid, it was irresponsible and dangerous, and to be perfectly honest, I never thought a man of his supposed caliber would say something like that, when as a matter of public record, it is not supported by the evidence.
This is no small affair as far as I'm concerned, considering that a man's life is in the balance, and who, for anyone familiar with the case, seems to be getting railroaded.
And no, I don't think it's a joke....
You said it again, it’s not true...
I never said Santorum claims to speak for God. God blesses
those who follow Him.
Let us not argue. It’s well known, Santorum has a strong
faith.
How refreshing it would be after a Herod as President and the establishment desires another non-Christian in the Presidency.
The word establishment, actually, the word should be NWO with Bush seniors endorsement.
No, you implie...
You know what, forget it. You seem like a nice person, and it doesn't seem like we have any disagreements as far as politics or religion are concerned.
Sorry to have bothered you...
I am sick of the ads and the robocalls in Wisconsin from Romney against Santorum. Personally, I’m staying the course. My vote goes to Santorum.
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